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Hidden Forces

Trump Doctrine: A New Era of Gunboat Diplomacy | Stephen Walt

Hidden Forces

Demetri Kofinas

Government, Business

4.8 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 3 July 2025

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In Episode 426 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Stephen Walt, Professor of International Affairs at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, about American grand strategy, the Trump Doctrine of Coercive Primacy, and the implications of Washington’s new Gunboat Diplomacy in the Middle East.

Stephen is a prominent member of the realist school in international relations. He’s been a long-time critic of American adventurism and an advocate for a more restrained approach to U.S. foreign policy.

In the first hour, Stephen provides his assessment of recent events in the Middle East, how U.S. policy in the region improves or worsens America’s global position, and what we can say with certainty about the Trump administration’s approach to foreign policy.

In the second hour, he and Demetri discuss:
(1) America’s policy in the Middle East
(2) Iranian intentions and the potential for regime change
(3) Solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
(4) American grand strategy
(5) The long-awaited U.S. pivot to Asia that has failed to fully materialize

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Episode Recorded on 06/25/2025

Transcript

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0:00.0

What's up, everybody? My name is Dmitra Kaffinus, and you're listening to Hidden Forces,

0:06.1

a podcast that inspires investors, entrepreneurs, and everyday citizens, to challenge consensus

0:12.8

narratives and learn how to think critically about the systems of power shaping our world.

0:18.8

My guest in this episode of Hidden Forces is professor of

0:21.5

international affairs at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government

0:25.6

Stephen Walt. Stephen is a prominent member of what is known as the realist

0:30.5

school in international relations. He's been a longtime critic of American

0:34.9

adventurism and an advocate for a more restrained approach to

0:38.9

American foreign policy. I asked him on the podcast today to get his assessment of the events

0:44.0

that have transpired in the Middle East over the last several weeks, how U.S. policy in the region

0:49.1

improves or worsens America's larger strategic position in the world, and what we have learned or

0:55.0

can learn from these recent events about the Trump administration's approach to foreign policy

0:59.8

and an emerging doctrine, of coercive primacy, and gunboat diplomacy.

1:05.4

Between the first and second hours, we discuss America's policy in the Middle East, Iranian

1:10.2

intentions and the potential

1:11.6

for regime change, best case solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, American grand

1:17.7

strategy, and the long-awaited U.S. pivot to Asia that has failed to fully materialize.

1:23.7

If you want access to all of this conversation, go to hiddenforces.io slash subscribe and join our

1:30.6

premium feed, which you can listen to on your mobile device using your favorite podcast app just like

1:36.4

you're listening to this episode right now. If you want to join in on the conversation,

1:41.8

become a member of the Hidden Forces genius community, which

1:44.6

includes Q&A calls with guests, access to special research and analysis, in-person events,

...

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